Places of worship are often among the most challenging environments for audio accessibility.
Some are historic or “listed” buildings where running miles of copper wire for an induction loop is physically impossible or prohibited by heritage laws. The high ceilings and stone walls of cathedrals and mosques create significant reverberation, which garbles speech for anyone using standard hearing aids.
Other groups will meet in hired spaces and provide a portable AV solution.
And some groups will not have the funds to provide a Telecoil or a WiFi-based system, whether permanent or temporary.
Auracast is the perfect solution. Because it is a wireless, radio-based system, a single small transmitter can cover an entire sanctuary without a single cable being stapled to a 14th-century oak beam or pushed into a stone pillar.
An Auracast-only solution – which we don’t recommend as it won’t include those who do not have Auracast-enabled hearing aids or Cochlear – can cost as little as $50. It’s cheap and easy, and makes a world of difference to those who want to hear clearly.
Other lower-cost solutions exist, such as Avantree’s AuraPlex setup.
For congregations, Auracast offers a discreet, dignified way to participate in services.
Older members of the community, who may have been reluctant to wear a visible “headset” provided by the church, can now simply use their modern hearing aids or even a pair of standard consumer earbuds.
The audio comes directly from the leader’s microphone, bypassing the room’s echoes entirely. This “direct-to-ear” clarity is often the difference between a congregant feeling connected to their faith or feeling isolated by their hearing loss.
Additionally, many places of worship are now multi-use community spaces in use across the week. The right system can help with a variety of meetings and hires.
An Auracast system installed for Sunday services can be used for song time at a toddler group, by a visiting speaker at a history society meeting, by a youth group holding a “silent cinema” night, or by a prayer group. A choral concert can be Auracast, ensuring every note is heard, while all the gags can be laughed at loud and clear during a comedy night … and when the church fete comes round, the raffle numbers and other announcements are given over the Auracast so everyone can check their tickets.
By setting up multiple channels, a church could provide a simultaneous translation of the sermon in several languages, making the space more welcoming to diverse immigrant communities. It is a one-time investment that transforms a historic building into a modern, inclusive hub for the entire community.
There are other potential solutions. If there is a prayer or study group that meets during the week, an Auracast microphone can ensure the group leader’s voice is heard loud and clear, while an Auracast-enabled table microphone can enable group discussions.
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